Radiator.



J. F. MONNOT.

RADIATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.10, 1910.

Patented June 17, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANonRAPH C0.,wAsH|NGToN, D. C.

JOHN F. IVIONNOT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

RADIATOR.

Application filed December 1G, 1910.

To all wh-0m t may concern Be it known that l, JOHN F. MoNNoT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Paris, France, have invented a certain new and useful Radiator, of which the fol lowing is a specii'ication.

My invention relates to improvements in electric radiators; by which term l mean electric heaters wherein heat is not radiated directly, to any considerable extent at least, from the electric heating element, but is imparted from such heating element to anot-her heating fluid, usually water or steam, (though it may be a liquid or vapor having a lower boiling point or condensing temperature than water) such liquid or vapor serving to conduct the heat to the external metal walls of the heater from whence the heat is radiated to the surrounding air.

My invention consists in the novel construction of the heater, as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

The objects of my invention are to improve the construction of electric heaters, to make the same more eiiicient, and to provide an improved sectional construction.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in the claim.

ln said drawings: lliigure l shows a front elevation of one form of electric radiator embodyingl my invention; Fig. 2 shows a fragmentary longitudinal section of the radiator on a larger scale; Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of one of the elements of the radiator on the line afm of Fig. 2; Fig. et shows a horizontal section of one of the sections of the radiator.

rllhe types of electric heaters most commonly in use for general heating purposes (2'. c., heating of rooms, dwellings, etc.) either comprise resistance coils which heat by direct radiation to the surrounding air, or luminous bulbs similar' to ordinary incandescent lamp bulbs. Both of these types of heaters are rather fragile, their heating efficiency is low and their life short. ln 'he case of a heater comprising resistance coils exposed to direct contact with the air,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1'?, MMS.

Serial No. 596,707.

one fruitful source of inefliciency is, that the temperature of these coils in service is quite high, whereas it is well known that for elficient heating of the air of a room, a large surface of relatively moderate temperature is to be preferred. Likewise, the resistance coils of such heaters are apt to oXidize, crystalline and break. The lilaments of the incandescent bulb type of heater are also eX- tremely likely to break, when exposed to even moderate shock or vibration. Both of these types of heaters have the further objection that a large proportion of the heat that is produced is emitted as radiant heat,- and so becomes eEective for heating only when it impinges against some solid object; the air through which such radiant heat passes being practically heated not at all by the passage of the radiant heat through it. To heat a large volume of air effectively, for the warming of rooms and dwellings, it is necessary to transmit heat to it by direct contact or by convection, and for that large heating surfaces at a relatively low temperature are required.

The electric heater herein described comprises an electric resistance heater inclosed within a radiator adapted to contain a heating medium, such as water, steam, or other suitable liquid or vapor, to which heat will he communicated by the heating element and which will in turn transmit heat to the walls of the radiator. For efficient transmission of heat, for quick heating up with minimum consumption of electric current in heating up, for cheapness in construction, and for portability, it is desirable that the radiator shall be in the main of sheet metal construction; that is to say, of construction such that its sections may be stamped from sheet metal. l have therefore devised a simple and inexpensive sheet metal construction adapted for radiator sections.

lin a sectional radiator in which there may be generation of steam or other vapor from liquid in the radiator, it is important to provide for adequate circulation of water or other liquid throughout the liquid space of the radiator, and also to provide adequate connections of the various steam or vapor spaces of the sections of the radiator, above the surface of such liquid, so that there may be equalization of pressure and equalization ofv liquid level throughout the radiator, and so that any contained air may be blown olf automatically, thereby prevent-ing trapping of air in parts of the radiator and consequent ineflicient action of those parts in which the air is trapped.

In the radiator herein described I provide three connections between the various radiator sections, the two lower connections serving for circulation of liquid, the uppermost connection serving to connect the steam or vapor spaces of the various sections.

Referring now to the drawings, the rad-iator there shown comprises a column 1 within which is a heating element f2, and two series of radiator sections 3, connected to this column at points 4L, 5 and G and similarly connected to each other. In the particular construction shown, the. column 1 is between the two series of radiator sections, but this particular location of the column 1 is opt-ional, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other arrangements of the column with respect to the radiator sections are practicable; for example, that the column 1 may be located at the end of a series of radiator sections. Indeed, in the construction shown, such radiator column is at the end of either of the two series of radiator sections, taken separately.

rlhe construction of the column 1 is such that it may be fo-rmed either as a casting or it may be pressed by familiar pressing methods. As is the case in ordina-ry sectional radiator constructions, there may be few or many of the radiator sections 3, as desired or required. These sections 3 are of sheet metal construction, comprising` side plates 3a, usually corrugated, as shown, both for strength and stiffness, and to give increased heating surface, and are joined at the edges by brazing, welding, or in any other suitable manner. rlhe facility with which, at the present day, such parts may be welded together by the acetylene welding process, the electric welding process, or similar processes, makes the welding of these plates together at their edges a very practicable and simple matter.

In stamping the plates Sa for the sections 3, bosses are formed at the points 1i, 5, and 6, where the radiator sections are to be joined together, or to the column 1. To join these sections together and to the column 1, through-bolts 7 are pro-vided, these bolts being of I-section approximately. z'. c., having grooves in their sides, constituting circulation passages. Said bolts are threaded at their ends, one end screwing into the column 1, while on the other end screws a nut 9, whereby the several sections are pressed together.

lVithin the bosses t, 5 and 6 of the radiator sections, spacing bushings 11 are provided. 1 customarily provide suitable jointmaking material l-l between the bossed portions of adjacent radiator sections, to form tight joints; this packing material being either a suitable elastic packing material, or a suit-able metallic packing material, or a suitable cement; or in fact any other jointmaking material suitable for the purpose.

The spacing bushings 11 are provided with ports 15 for the flow of liquid or vapor, free circulation of such liquid or vapor being thereby permitted.

It will be noted that the sectional radiator construction justl described is at once simple, inexpensive, and very effective, insuring tight joints, and permitting if desired, a very light construction of the sections, through the employment of very th-in metal. 1t further permits the construction of these sections of metal of much higher heat conductivity, than iron or steel, such for eX- ample as copper, brass, or even aluminum.

The heating element 2 comprises a metallic resistance wire 16 wound upon a support 17 of refractory insulating` material, and inclosed in a suitable envelop 18, the latter being customarily, though not necessarily, a metallic tube; and between the said envelop 1S and the said resistance coils there is customarily a refractory spacing and insulating material 19, which may conveniently be a pulverulent material, such aschalk, plaster of Paris, talc, or other suitable material. It is convenient to have the support 17 for the resistance coils 16, tubular in form as shown, and to lead conducting wires 9,0 to various portions of the resistance coil 1G, through the interior of this tube; and to space said wires apart the said tube may conveniently be filled with similar pulverulent spacing insulating material. l customarily connect these conductor wires to various portions of resistance coils 16, so that part or all of the resistance coil may be included in circuit as desired, and so that, by connecting the various sections of the resistance coil 16 in series or in multiple, various combinations of resistance may be produced, thereby permitting desired regulation of the' heat generated within the radiator; and upon the top of the radiator, or at any other suitable point., l provide an electric switch 21, to which these wires 20 lead, for controlling the number of sections of resistance coil which may be in circuit, and for controlling the series or multiple combinations of these .sections I do not illustrate the particular construction of the switch 21, as various constructions of switch adapted for such service are well known. In constructing this heating element 2, it is well dried after assembling of the parts so far described, is then hermetically sealed at the top by means ot' suitable sealing means 22, and a suitable cover' 23 is then applied. This heating element is then inserted into the column 1 of the radiator, through an aperture in the top of said column, and may hang from the top of said column through engagement of the said cover 23 with the top ot' said column, the said top being covered over by a dome 24- upon which the switch 21 is mounted.

At a convenient point on the upper part of the column 1 I provide customarily, an automatic air valve 25, which may be, conveniently, a thermostatic valve. The construction of such air valves is well known, and does not require detail description or illustration here.

The radiator thus described is adapted for use either as a steam radiator' or as a hot water radiator. It will customarily be filled wit-h liquid to or even above the tops of, connections 5. These connections 5 are of considerable diameter', and there is considerable distance bet-ween them and the air connections 6, to allow for [iuctuations in level of the liquid such as occur from well known causes during the operation of the heater; it being the intention that the liquid level shall at all times be above the bottoms f of connections 5, so that there may be at all times circulation of liquid through these connections The circulation will be upward through column 1, outward through connections 5, downward through radiator sections 3, and inward, toward column 1, through connections 4. The space above connections 5 is vapor space and also serves to permit expansion of the liquid with rise of temperature, without straining the structure of the radiator. The top connection 6 of the various sections to the column 1, permits any contained air to gather at the top ot column 1, where it may pass orf through air valve Q5, and permits equalization otl pressure and of liquid back throughout the radiator'. But while the radiator herein described is adapted and primarily intended for use as an independent source of heat, it is also adapted 'for connection in a heating system, from which it may receive hot water or steam or other heating Huid. To this end I have indicated a connection 2G on column 1, which may either be closed by a suitable plug, when the radiator herein described is to be used independently of any other heating system, or to which connection the supply pipe of a hot water or steam heating system may be connected. In the latter case the connecting pipe will of course be provided, as is usual, with a valve, whereby the radiator may be shut oit from the said heating system when desired; and when so shut oill this radiator may be used if desired as an independent heating unit, the same as it it were not connected to another heating system.

rIhe heating element 2, constructed as described, is absolutely air tight, and the quantity of air included in the pulverulent material 19 is so small that it is not suiiicient to oXidiZc materially the metallic resistance; and, after the oxygen in such air has combined with the resistance, no further oxidation is possible. The resistance being surrounded by the powdered material, is well supported, and cannot be injured by vibration. Expansion and contraction is taken up by the powder which has a certain elasticity. Heating elements of this kind have a very long life and can be made with large heating surfaces, maintained at a low temperature-nstially not over 2200 F. Such heating elements are of course adapted for the direct heating of air without the intermediation of a heating fluid, such as water or steam, as described in this case; but for the reasons above stated, it is usually better, where air is to be heated for the warming ot rooms, etc., to transmit the heat from the heating element to the air through water or steam or similar medium.

The liquid capacity of the radiator is quite small, owing to its construction; but because of the location of the heating element within the main liquid container of the radiator, and because of the ample provision Jfor circulation past this heating element, the circulation is very effective; and for this reason, as well as because ot' the small liquid capacity of the radiator, and the thinness of the walls, the radiator heats up rapidly and with minimum consumption or' energy in heating up.

The heating element herein illustrated and described forms the subject matter of a separate application for Letters Patent filed December' 10, 1910, Sr. No. 596,708; and in another application for Letters Patent tiled April 14, 1911, Sr. No. 621,084. I have claimed the sectional radiator construction herein illustrated and described, comprising the through-bolts 7 of approximate I-sect-ion connecting' the various radiator sect-ions. Therefore such inventions are not claimed herein.

that I claim is z- A sectional radiator comprising in combination a vertical column provided with heating means therein and a plurality of vertical radiator sections, said column and sections being provided with lower intercommunicating circulation ports near their tions above the upper circulation ports is lower ends and with upper intercommun- `pro-vided. for, substantially as described. l0 eatin-g circulation ports near their upper In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, ends, and also provided with ntercommuniin the presence of tWo Witnesses.

eating air und vapor circulation ports above JOHN F. MONNOT. said upper ports and above the normal Vtnesses:

Water level of the radiator, whereby com- H. M. MARBLE,

munieation between the column and the Sec- D. A. DAVIES.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of' Patents. Washington, D. C. 

